The course is divided into two main sections: General Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, which are closely integrated to provide a comprehensive and coherent understanding of drug mechanisms of action, with particular emphasis on the origin of active compounds and their therapeutic applications.
The primary goal of General Pharmacology is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge necessary to understand how drugs interact with the human body at both the molecular and systemic levels.
Pharmacognosy aims to develop a solid understanding of the pharmacological properties of active compounds of natural origin (plant, animal, microbial, or mineral), without neglecting their synthetic or semi-synthetic counterparts.

In the General Pharmacology section, the core concepts of pharmacodynamics (mechanisms of action, affinity, efficacy, selectivity, potency, adverse effects) and pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination) will be explored in detail. A significant part of the course is dedicated to the study of major neurotransmitter systems, including biogenic amines (dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine), acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, and other excitatory amino acids. Emphasis will be placed on the pathophysiological role of these systems and the pharmacological modulation of their targets.

In the Pharmacognosy section, special attention will be given to the study of natural drugs of pharmacological interest, particularly those included in the European Pharmacopoeia. The course will analyze their active constituents, extraction and standardization methods, therapeutic indications, and their use in both modern and traditional medicine.

At the end of the General Pharmacology section, students should be able to identify and describe the main molecular targets of drugs, such as receptors (both membrane-bound and intracellular), enzymes, transporters, ion pumps, and channels. They should understand the interactions between drugs and neurotransmitter-mediated systems—both central and peripheral—including the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, as well as the dopaminergic, serotonergic, histaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic systems. Students should also be able to apply pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to analyze the action profile of a drug, regardless of whether it is of natural or synthetic origin.

In the Pharmacognosy section, students should be able to address issues related to the mechanisms of action and therapeutic uses of plant-derived natural substances and their active compounds. They should understand the importance of in vitro and in vivo experimentation to identify and characterize active compounds from plant materials for therapeutic use, and be familiar with the main characteristics of the active principles found in medicinal plants.

Knowledge and understanding.
At the end of the course, the student should demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of both synthetic and natural drugs.

Applying knowledge and understanding.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to understand how the therapeutic response of synthetic and natural drugs is influenced by their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

Autonomy of judgment.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to analyze and predict therapeutic alternatives based on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of different active compounds, whether of natural or synthetic origin.

Communication skills.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to present the concepts covered in the "Knowledge and understanding" section using appropriate and critical scientific language.

Learning skills.
At the end of the course, the student should demonstrate the ability to independently learn and understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of synthetic and natural drugs that modulate various pharmacological responses. Moreover, the student should be able to critically build their scientific knowledge by using not only the teaching materials provided but also by engaging in further in-depth study.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Classroom lectures

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classroom 

Attendance

Basic knowledge of general physiology

Course books

Recommended textbooks:

H.P. Rang, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson. Pharmacology, Eighth Edition
F. Capasso. Pharmacognosy, Second Edition. SPRINGER, 2012

Reference textbook:

F. Clementi, G. Fumagalli. General and Molecular Pharmacology, Fourth Edition

Assessment

The exam consists of an oral interview covering the topics included in the syllabus and discussed during the lectures. The aim is to assess whether the student has acquired the fundamental pharmacological concepts described in the section on Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors). The final grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be based on the evaluation of the student's answers.

Students who have officially registered a disability certification or a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) certification with the University’s Inclusion and Right to Study Office may request to use concept maps (based on keywords) during the exam.

To this end, the concept maps must be sent two weeks before the exam date to the course instructor, who will check their consistency with the University's guidelines and may request modifications if necessary.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

It is recommended to use the teaching material available on the Moodle platform

Attendance

Basic knowledge of general physiology

Course books

Recommended textbooks:

H.P. Rang, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson. Pharmacology, Eighth Edition
F. Capasso. Pharmacognosy, Second Edition. SPRINGER, 2012

Reference textbook:

F. Clementi, G. Fumagalli. General and Molecular Pharmacology, Fourth Edition

Assessment

The exam consists of an oral interview covering the topics included in the syllabus and discussed during the lectures. The aim is to assess whether the student has acquired the fundamental pharmacological concepts described in the section on Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors). The final grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be based on the evaluation of the student's answers.

Students who have officially registered a disability certification or a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) certification with the University’s Inclusion and Right to Study Office may request to use concept maps (based on keywords) during the exam.

To this end, the concept maps must be sent two weeks before the exam date to the course instructor, who will check their consistency with the University's guidelines and may request modifications if necessary.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.